Tewari et al. Forest Ecosystems (2017) 4:13 DOI 10.1186/s40663-017-0100-4

REVIEW Open Access Climate change effects in the Western Himalayan ecosystems of India: evidence and strategies Vindhya Prasad Tewari1*, Raj Kumar Verma1 and Klaus von Gadow2,3

Abstract Background: The fragile landscapes of the Himalayan region are highly susceptible to natural hazards, and there is ongoing concern about current and potential climate change impacts. This study provides background information on India’sWesternHimalayasandreviewsevidenceofwarming as well as variability in precipitation and extreme events. Methods: Understanding and anticipating the impacts of climate change on Himalayan forest ecosystems and the services they provide to people are critical. Efforts to develop and implement effective policies and management strategies for climate change mitigation and adaptation requires particular new research initiatives. The various studies initiated and conducted in the region are compiled here. Results: Several new initiatives taken by the Himalayan Forest Research Institute in Shimla are described. This includes new permanent observational field studies, some with mapped trees, in high altitude transitional zones for continuous monitoring of vegetation response. We have also presented new strategies for mitigating potential climate change effects in Himalayan forest ecosystems. Conclusions: Assessment of the ecological and genetic diversity of the Himalayan conifers is required to evaluate potential responses to changing climatic conditions. Conservation strategies for the important temperate medicinal plants need to be developed. The impact of climate change on insects and pathogens in the Himalayas also need to be assessed. Coordinated efforts are necessary to develop effective strategies for adaptation and mitigation. Keywords: Himalayan ecosystem, Climate change, New strategies, High altitude, New observational studies

Background change impacts which may include abnormal floods, The Indian Himalayan region is home to about 51 droughts and landslides (Barnett et al. 2005; Cruz et al. million people, many of whom practice hill agriculture 2007), loss of biodiversity and threats to food security in fragile and diverse ecosystems, including species-rich (Xu et al. 2009). In order to fulfil India’s vision of sus- forests. The region has a considerable hydropower tainable development in the context of climate change, a potential and feeds numerous perennial rivers which National Action Plan on Climate Change was launched depend upon the sustainable existence of glaciers in June 2008. This National Action Plan includes eight (GoI 2010, DST 2012). Due to its high biological and specific objectives, including a “National Mission for socio-cultural diversity, the region has been identified as Sustaining the Himalayan Eco-systems” and a “National one of 34 “biological hotspots” by Gautam et al. (2013). Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change”. The fragile landscapes of the Himalayan region are Mountain ecosystems are important for economic highly susceptible to natural hazards, and there is on- growth and human well-being. They provide numerous going concern about current and potential climate public goods and services including fresh water, food, lifesaving medicinal products, energy, Bio-diversity and * Correspondence: [email protected] associated traditional knowledge. However, these ser- 1Himalayan Forest Research Institute, Shimla, HP, India vices have received comparatively little recognition in Full list of author information is available at the end of the article

© The Author(s). 2017 Open Access This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. Tewari et al. Forest Ecosystems (2017) 4:13 Page 2 of 9

national economic decision-making (Pandey 2012). would face a high risk of extinction if the global aver- Mountains are among the most fragile environments age temperature increase would exceed 2–3°Cabove and are most vulnerable to catastrophic events. If moun- the pre-industrial level. tains become degraded, or fail to provide essential ser- vices, the costs may be severe. Therefore, Chapter 13 of Local evidence the United Nations Agenda 21 specifically recognizes Several studies evaluating the impact of climate change on the value of mountain systems. Yet these recommenda- forest ecosystems in India have been published recently tions are not sufficiently reflected in national, regional, (for example, Chaturvedi et al. 2011; Gopalakrishnan et al. and international policies and priorities (Pandey 2012). 2011). However, most of these studies lack an assessment In India’s Western Himalayas, changes in altitude are of expected development at the local level (Upgupta et al. dramatic producing a very specific pattern of vegetation 2015). Evidence collected at local climate stations in the types that include alluvial grasslands, subtropical forests, Himalayas overwhelmingly show a warming trend, albeit conifer mountain forests and alpine meadows. The plant at different rates and in different periods depending on species that inhabit the mountains have already started specific regional and seasonal circumstances (Gautam et to migrate to higher altitudes due to warming (Padma al. 2013). 2014), and some are in danger of being lost before anyone has even recorded their existence. The melting Local warming glaciers are often the principal concern of climate Analyses of temperature trends in the Himalayan region change in the Himalayas. However, the region is also have shown that temperature increases are greater at the home to one-tenth of the world’s known higher- higher altitudes than in the lowlands (Shrestha et al. altitude plant and animal species, and half of India’s 1999). In a regional study using a reconstructed native plant species (Padma 2014). Particularly rich in temperature dataset of the Climate Research Unit, Brohan biodiversity are the Western Himalayas that include et al. (2006) and Diodato et al. (2012) concluded that the Indian states of Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and during the last few decades the Himalayan and Tibetan Kashmir, Uttarakhand and Sikkim, where elevations Plateau regions have been warming at a rate higher than vary from 300 m to more than 6000 m and where the rates observed during the past century. They show a the mountains thus act as a natural barrier to species 0.5 °C increase in the average maximum temperature migration (Padma 2014). (Tmax) during the period 1971–2005 when compared to the period 1901–1960. Dash et al. (2007) reported that in Evidence of warming the western Indian Himalayas a 0.9 °C average increase Global evidence was observed during the 102-year period 1901–2003. The State of the Climate report of the US National They found that much of this observed trend is due to in- Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA creasing temperatures after 1972. Dimri and Dash (2012) 2009), presents overwhelming evidence that the Earth also found a warming trend over the western Indian is warming. The evidence is based on 10 indicators. Himalayas, with the greatest observed increase in Tmax be- Seven of these are increasing (air temperature in the tween 1.1 °C and 2.5 °C. In the north-western Indian troposphere; specific humidity; Ocean heat content; Himalayan region, Bhutiyani et al. (2007) found an in- rising sea level; sea-surface temperature; temperature crease of 0.16 °C per decade during the past century. over oceans; temperature over land) while three indi- Singh et al. (2008) also observed increasing trends in the cators are decreasing (extent of snow cover; volume seasonal average of the daily maximum temperature for of glaciers and sea ice). all seasons, except during monsoon, over the lower According to IPCC (2014) climate and non-climate Indus basin in the north-western Indian Himalayas. stressors are projected to have a direct effect on for- Shekhar et al. (2010) presented analyses at different est ecosystems during the twenty-first century, which ranges of the western Himalayas which show significant will cause large-scale forest die-back, biodiversity loss variations in temperature and snowfall during the past and reduced ecosystem services. Fischlin (2007) re- few decades. These various findings from the region are ports that 20%–30% of the plant and animal species summarised in Table 1.

Table 1 Summary of the various findings about the rise of the temperature in Western Himalayas Brohan et al. (2006), Diodato et al. (2012) Dash et al. (2007) Dimri and Dash (2012) Bhutiyani et al. (2007) 0.5 °C increase in the average Average increase of 0.9 °C in Increase in maximum Increase of temperature 0.16 °C maximum temperature (Tmax) temperature during 1901–2003 temperature between per decade during the century during 1971–2005 compared 1.1 and 2.5 °C to 1901–1960 Tewari et al. Forest Ecosystems (2017) 4:13 Page 3 of 9

Local variability in precipitation and extreme events are 377.5, 285.2, 1723.0 and 526.2 mm, respectively Based on observations at three weather stations, while the mean total annual rainfall is 1251.0 mm, all Bhutiyani et al. (2010) reported a statistically significant during 2004–2012. downward trend (at 5% significance level) in monsoon The observations presented in Table 3 show that, ex- and average annual rainfall in the north-western Indian cept in the winter of 2005, in all other years and seasons, Himalayas during the period 1866–2006. A similar trend the rainfall was much less compared to the mean annual was observed for the period 1960–2006 in the western and seasonal rainfall. Indian Himalaya region (Sontakke et al. 2009), without mentioning statistical significance. The literature also Climate change studies in Himalayan forest presents evidence of intra-regional differences in win- ecosystems ter rainfall trends over the Western Indian Himalayas. Understanding and anticipating the impacts of climate Dimri and Dash (2012) noted significantly decreasing change on the Himalayan forest ecosystems and the ser- winter precipitations between December and February vices they provide to people are critical to the efforts to in the region during the period 1975–2006 amid lack develop and implement effective policies and manage- of spatially coherent phases among stations. An in- ment strategies for mitigation and adaptation. To antici- crease in pre-monsoon (March–May) precipitation pate possible impacts of climate change on the structure was observed in the western Indian Himalayas during and functions of these unique ecosystems, and to evalu- 1901–2003 (Guhathakurta and Rajeevan 2008). ate their socio-ecological sustainability, long-term moni- Dimri and Dash (2012) reported for the western toring and modelling of forest structure and dynamics Indian Himalayas an increasing number of warm days are indispensable. and a decreasing number of cold days during the period The Himalayan region is severely data-deficient in terms 1975–2006. They also found a rising trend in maximum of observations of climate change impacts on ecosystem number of consecutive dry days (< 1 mm water equiva- and biodiversity (IPCC 2007). There is a serious lack of lent of snowfall) in winter (December–February) at eight systematic studies and empirical observations about stations across the western Indian Himalayas during the species-level impacts of climate change in the Himalayas period 1975–2006. At the same time, the maximum (Gautam et al. 2013). The few available research reports number of consecutive wet days (days with 90th percent- deal with assumed climate sensitivities. One example is a ile of events with >1 mm water equivalent of snowfall) recent study which reports a decline in apple yields in were observed at most of these stations (Dimri and Dash some parts of Himachal Pradesh because the chilling re- 2012). Table 2 summarizes the various findings from the quirements which are essential for proper flowering and western Indian Himalayan region regarding the main fruiting, are no longer being observed (Raina 2009). features of climate warming of the region. National Forest Research in India is primarily coordi- The seasonal and annual rainfall variation in the nated by the Indian Council of Forest Research and State of Himachal Pradesh was observed by the Education. The head office which reports to the Indian Meteorological Department during 2004–2012 Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (IMD 2004; 2005; 2006; 2007; 2008; 2009; 2010; 2011; is located in Dehradun and deals with policy issues re- 2012). Table 3 presents the arithmetic means of the garding the development of forest research, education data recorded at 36 stations covering all the districts and extension in India. To this purpose, the Indian of the State. The numbers given in the Table show Council of Forest Research and Education carries out the positive or negative relative deviations of rainfall applied research dealing with specific issues regarding when compared with the normal mean seasonal and forest ecosystems, including potential effects of climate annual rainfall in the State of Himachal Pradesh. The change, conservation of biodiversity, combating desert- normal mean rainfall in winter, pre-monsoon, mon- ification and sustainable management of forest re- soon and post-monsoon season in Himachal Pradesh sources. Figure 1 shows the location of the nine

Table 2 Summary of the various findings about the changes in monsoon and rainfall due to climate warming in Western Himalayas Bhutiyani et al. (2010) Sontakke et al. (2009) Dimri and Dash (2012) Guhathakurta and Rajeevan (2008) Downward trend in monsoon and Decreasing trend in monsoon Decreasing winter precipitation Increase in pre-monsoon average rainfall during 1866–2006 and average rainfall during during December–February, precipitation during 1901–2003 1960–2006 increase in number of warm days, decrease in number of cold days, and rising trend in number of consecutive dry days in winter during 1975–2006 Tewari et al. Forest Ecosystems (2017) 4:13 Page 4 of 9

Table 3 Percent seasonal and annual departure of rainfall in forest dynamics. Observational studies provide information Himachal Pradesh during 2004–2012 based on IMD annual at various scales, ranging from specific sites where manage- climate summaries (IMD 2004; 2005; 2006; 2007; 2008; 2009; ment actions have been or will be implemented to large 2010; 2011; 2012) geographical regions or an entire nation (Tewari et al. Year Relative change in total annual rainfall (% departure) 2014; Tewari 2015). A Forest Observational Studies (FOS) Winter Pre-monsoon Monsoon Post-monsoon Total annual network would ensure effective monitoring and analysis of 2004 forest ecosystems covering a range of topics, including 2005 2 −44 −8 −99 −21.0 changes in ecosystem structure and diversity, response to 2006 −48 −41 −24 −45 −32.0 natural disturbances, as well as tree mortality and regener- ation. Data from Forest Observational Studies that are 2007 −38 −11 −36 −77 −34.8 collected over long periods of time can effectively comple- − − − − − 2008 20 59 5 51 20.8 ment the observations of a National Forest Inventory 2009 −51 −46 −34 −36 −39.0 (Gadow et al. 2016). 2010 −46 −36 13 −18 −8.0 Forest Observational Studies, locally known as “Linear 2011 −32 −32 −11 −83 −23.0 Tree Increment plots”, “Linear Sample plots” and “ ” 2012 −9 −51 −16 −62 −25.0 Permanent Preservation Plots (Tewari et al. 2014) have a long tradition in India. An extensive network of forest plots covers diverse forest types and environmental condi- regional research institutes of the Indian Council of tions. Numerous long term observational studies were Forest Research and Education. initiated at the beginning of the twentieth century. One of the nine regional research institutes of the Some of these sites are still in good condition, some Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education is the have been neglected and many have been lost. There is Himalayan Forest Research Institute in Shimla, which is an urgent need to re-establish and maintain these sites, responsible for forest research on Western Himalayan which are invaluable for providing essential information ecosystems, including the extensive Cold Desert areas in about forest structure and dynamics. Detailed monitor- Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh. ing of forest ecosystem processes including growth and mortality and the relationship between density, bio- New observational studies diversity and production are important areas of forest Long-term forest observational studies provide the empir- research. Because of the issues related to climate ical basis for forest policies and for developing models of change effects, new Observational Studies on natural

Fig. 1 Location of the nine regional research institutes of the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education Tewari et al. Forest Ecosystems (2017) 4:13 Page 5 of 9

regeneration of conifers and oak forests of the Hima- term observational field plots into the existing National layas are urgently needed. Forest Inventory in India. Permanent Forest Observational Studies (PFOS) have been established in many countries as a “Green Infrastruc- New observational studies at high altitudes ture” which provides essential information for forest eco- Five new permanent observational studies were estab- logical research. PFOS installations are used to collect lished by the Himalayan Forest Research Institute be- observations without manipulating the ecosystem. They tween August 2012 and October 2012 at altitudes above represent an increasingly important complement to a 3500 m in the Sutlej, Beas and Ravi river catchments. National Forest Inventory. Skilful and continuous observa- The objective of these initiatives was to monitor long- tion is necessary for describing complex forest structures, term effects of climate change on vegetation communi- understanding ecosystem processes and evaluating the po- ties at high altitudes. A brief summary of the five study tential of forests to provide a range of essential products sites is presented in Table 4. and services. The main objective of a PFOS network is to These long-term observational studies are used to as- ensure continuity of re-measurements, using standardized sess the effects of global warming in the High Altitude plot designs and field assessment protocols. The value of Transition Zones in Himachal Pradesh. These zones, any PFOS network will increase with each additional re- where the snow is trapped for a long period, play an im- measurement, because observations collected over long portant role in the Himalayan ecology. periods of time will increasingly reveal basic ecosystem re- sponses to climate change and other influencing factors. The Chakah Kanda (Kinnaur) study area features an This requires a strong national commitment to continuity, observational plot on a slope along Kalpa Kanda, a firm decision to ensure that all forest observational about 6 km from Kalpa in sub-alpine scrub with thickets plots are protected, for example by assigning a special of Salix sp. (50%) and Juniper sp. (20%) and scattered status to all PFOS’ by Act or Regulation through Parlia- young Abies specatabilis and Pinus wallichiana trees at ment. To achieve this objective, the Food and Agricul- the well-defined tree-line. The area was found suitable tural Organisations of the United Nations is currently for long-term floristic studies. A permanent plot of 4 ha supporting a project which aims at integrating long- area was established ranging between 3630 m and 3730

Table 4 Some details of the five high altitude study sites established by the Himalayan Forest Research Institute Tewari et al. Forest Ecosystems (2017) 4:13 Page 6 of 9

m asl. Plot boundaries were marked with yellow paint Anemone sp., Geranium sp., Bulpeurum sp., Cynanthus and the GPS coordinates were recorded. The major sp., Anaphalis sp., Jurinea macrocephala, Doctylorhiza floristic composition of the site was also recorded. hatageria and Gymnadenia sp. The site is protected by Wildlife protection act. The Kinner Kailash study site (Kinnaur) is located near the ‘Ashiqui Park’ camping site en route to The High Altitude Transition Zones in Himachal Kinner Kailash at about 3600 m asl and about 12 km Pradesh contribute especially to recharge the aquifers in from the nearest road. The site includes the tree line addition to preventing soil erosion. They are home to a species Betula utilis, Abies spectabilis and Pinus rich and rare flora and fauna, with many species being wallichiana and a permanent plot of 3 ha area was recognized as ‘endangered’. In addition to the threats to established. The plot boundaries were marked and a the biosphere, the particular region is also experiencing botanical profile was also established. a significant impact of rising temperatures that could affect the Himalayan glaciers that are the source of many The Naradu Khud study site (Kinnaur) is located perennial rivers in the country. Recent studies on the re- about 6 km from the village Chitkul across the Baspa ceding glaciers and changes in plant phenologies have Khud at an elevation of about 3650 m asl. The focused on the timberline (Bertin 2008; Ali et al. 2015). floristic composition at this site includes forest The tree species of this zone are likely to respond rap- vegetation with Pinus wallichiana, Betula utilis and Abies idly to any change in ambient temperatures and associ- spectabilis and alpine scrub with stunted Betula utilis and ated shifts in ecosystem boundaries. shrubs of Rhododendron campanulatum, Rhododendron Data loggers were installed in these locations and data anthopogon, Salix spp., Lonicera spp., Rosa macrophylla, are collected regularly. The data collected during the Juniperus indica and Juniperus communis.Dominant past 5 years show a slight increase in the mean air herb species recorded from the site include Podophyllum temperature and decreasing precipitation. The regener- hexandrum, Bergenia stracheyi, Fritillaria roylei, ation status of junipers has improved. More specific and Anemone tetraphylla,Viola biflora, Ranunculus spp., reliable results will be available after monitoring for lon- Geranium sp., Potentella spp., Polygonatum ger periods of time. The reports indicate that during last oppositifolium and Polygonatum cirrhifolium.Afive decade the average maximum temperature increased by hectare plot was established at this site to adequately about 1.8 °C (from 19.8 °C to 21.6 °C) while minimum cover the treeline, alpine scrub and alpine pasture. temperature increased from 0.5 °C to 1.2 °C in the dry temperate zone of Kinnaur. The average snowfall de- The Tarakkad study site (Sach Pass, Chamba): A creased from 441.8 to 398.4 cm during the period. Also, survey of the tree-line vegetation around Satrundi the total area under snow decreased to by about 14% in (3515 m asl) revealed two dominant woody plant the state. species, the Betula utilis-Quercus semicarpifolia and In the state of Himachal Pradesh, transition zones Rhododendron campanulatum. A permanent observa- occur in the Kinnaur, Kullu and Chamba districts and, tional study was initiated in October 2012 to monitor hence, observational study sites were established in the the impact of warming on the vegetation. A rectangu- transition zones of these districts. These particular study lar plot of 3 ha area was found suitable to lay perman- sites are rich in flora and fauna and include rare and en- ent plot for monitoring the impact of global warming dangered species. The species of these transition zones and plot was laid out at Tarakkad. are likely to show responses to climatic variations and, therefore, the study sites are interlinked with each other. The Dhel Thatch (GHNP, Kullu) study site, covering an area of 10 ha, is located at 3560 m asl along the New forest observational study sites left bank of the Sainj rivulet about 26 km from the Two new forest observational studies were established nearest Niharni road. The site presents a typical tree recently by the Himalayan Forest Research Institute line scrub community and alpine meadow. Abies in Shimla. One of these, known as the Shimla site spectabilis and Quercus semicarpifolia are dominant at was established in 2015. The other, known as the the tree-line with scattered Sorbus microphylla, Prunus Shikari Devi site, was started in 2016. Both observa- cornuta and Betula utilis. The main shrub species is tional studies are used as practical examples to dem- Rhododendron campanulatum with sporadic occur- onstrate plot establishment, tree measurements and rence of Ribes sp., Lonicera sp., and Rosa macrophylla, tagging of trees. and regeneration of Quercus semicarpifolia, Quercus Field plots with mapped trees are essential for analys- semicarpifolia, Angelica glauca and Polygonatum sp. ing competition effects and spatially explicit structure The main alpine meadow species include Potentilla sp., and diversity and forest dynamics (Tewari et al. 2014). Tewari et al. Forest Ecosystems (2017) 4:13 Page 7 of 9

They provide the essential empirical basis for under- aromatic plant wealth in the region is, therefore, needed standing ecosystem structure and dynamics. Observa- and appropriate conservation strategies need to be devel- tions collected over long time periods may provide oped. In addition, cultivation, management and sustain- useful information about the effects of climate change able harvesting practices should also be implemented to on tree growth and mortality. improve the livelihood security of rural people. In the ab- sence of the natural predators, the local monkey (Macaca The HFRI Arboretum at Potter’s Hill mulatta) is causing extensive damage to agricultural The objective of maintaining an arboretum, herbal crops. Better methods of controlling the monkey popula- garden or a special nursery in a specific agro-climatic tions are required, and new approaches should be devel- zone is to preserve particular germ-plasms and to pro- oped to reduce the damage. vide suitable planting material. The Himalayan Forest Research Institute maintains an Arboretum at Potter’s Invasive insects and pathogens Hill, near Shimla for the ex situ conservation of the There is an urgent need to study the impact of climate temperate Himalayan native tree flora including endemic change on insects and pathogens in the Himalayas. As- and endangered species. So far, a total of 106 tree-, 10 sessment of the status and impact of invasive insects on herb- and 22 shrub species native to the Western forest health are needed in the north-western Himalayas, Himalayas were planted in the arboretum. especially in view of the expected climate change. The The arboretum is of significant interest for ecotourism beetle Pityogenus scitus, has been causing extensive and environmental education, addressing the needs of damage in Pinus wallichiana forests in the states of students and nature lovers and serves as an example for Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir during implementing similar conservation programmes in the 2000–2001. The Lepidoptera species Lymantria obfuscata, region involving native tree species. is causing mortality in several tree species, including Quercus leucotrichophora, Q. dialatata, Alnus nitida, Conclusions Salix alba, Falix fragilis and several Poplar species. Af- Human pressures on the natural ecosystems of the fected host tree species of the sap sucking aphid Tubero- Western Himalayas are intensifying, and this requires lachnus salignus are Salix alba, Salix correalua and Salix new research efforts and management strategies. babilonica. The rate of change as well as the number and severity Seed orchards and breeding programmes of extreme climatic events is likely to affect the magni- There is a need to assess the ecological and genetic di- tude of these impacts and the ability to cope with them. versity of the Himalayan conifers to evaluate potential Predictions of outbreak frequencies are hard to make responses to changing climatic conditions. Preservation without proper understanding of the population dynam- of certain genotypes in clonal orchards will help not only ics and the prevailing natural conditions. The distribu- to conserve the genotype but also for screening clones tion ranges of pathogens and pests are likely to extend to be used in future planting programmes. Identification to new areas, but prediction is difficult. Thus, improved of stress resistant strains and clones of important knowledge about the anticipated effects of the changing Himalayan tree species that are potentially suitable for climate on these biotic threats is desirable. large-scale reforestation programmes is also required. Development and identification of superior clones/ Evaluating current resource management practices strains of major tree species are essential for ensuring fu- Studies on fuel wood and fodder consumption patterns ture survival and productivity of the Himalayan forest in different regions of the Western Himalayas are communities. The reproductive biology of the conifer spe- needed to evaluate the effectiveness or wastefulness of cies, especially in view of the observed irregular seed pro- existing agricultural and agroforestry practices. Rural duction, is not well understood. Hence, inter-institutional people depend on the forests to collect fuel wood for linkages for genetic improvement of conifers, including their daily needs, but sustainable wood harvesting stud- improved breeding programmes, are needed. This in- ies are not available for the region. Most of the highland cludes development of nurseries and planting techniques pastures are in the state of severe degradation due to involving shrub and wild fruit species native to the heavy livestock pressure, and studies are also needed to Himalayan region as a prerequisite for initiating large- determine the carrying capacities of grasslands and al- scale planting programmes aimed at generating additional pine pastures of the Himalayas, to regulate grazing and sources of income for the rural populations. improve sustainable production. Due to over-exploitation and un-scientific destructive Several government departments and numerous pri- harvesting, many important medicinal plants have almost vate agencies are doing research on medicinal plants but become extinct. Detailed assessment of the medicinal and there is a serious lack of coordination between the Tewari et al. Forest Ecosystems (2017) 4:13 Page 8 of 9

different institutions. The production of economically Author details 1 2 valuable medicinal plants, e.g. through enrichment Himalayan Forest Research Institute, Shimla, HP, India. Georg-August University, Göttingen, Germany. 3Department of Forestry and Wood Science, planting in the temperate Himalayas, requires effective University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South Africa. coordination among various organizations and the shar- ing of knowledge and available technology to improve Received: 18 March 2017 Accepted: 27 July 2017 the use of available resources. The biodiversity of the protected and unprotected areas References across the Indian Himalayan Region needs to be assessed Ali Z, Liu W, Xiaodan W, Zainab I, Zona Z, Raza ST, Ali H, Saleem R (2015) Glacier and monitored for understanding the status and develop- receding and ecological thresholds for Tibetan Plateau and associated ment patterns. Data on the biodiversity status of native, cryosphere. 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